Abstract: There is disclosed herein an apparatus for use in thermally binding documents. The apparatus includes a housing which defines a document receiving aperture. Biased supports are associated with the housing and in alignment with the aperture for compressing documents along an edge to be bound and for defining a predetermined binding position. A heater is associated with the housing and is positioned adjacent the predetermined position and support for heating the edge of the documents to be bound.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein hardware for securing and supporting a telephone directory or the like within a protective cover. The hardware includes a support assembly to be secured to the protective cover and for supporting the directory. The assembly includes an elongated backing support having spaced first and second supports. Each support includes an upstanding flange which carries inwardly-extending, book-engaging tines. Each of the tines includes an inner shaped or curved end and has rounded edges, at least along the inner end. In one embodiment one support is integral with the backing support and the other is removably secured thereto.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a combined punch and binding machine having a pressure bar assembly for use in the selected actuation of punch members. The pressure bar includes an elongated back plate having an actuator insert receiving aperture at each end thereof, a row of set pin receiving apertures, and a plurality of forwardly extending stripper plate engaging fingers. The pressure bar assembly also includes an elongated unitary forward member for alignment with and securement to said back plate member. The unitary member includes an actuator receiving recess at each end aligned with said plate receiving apertures. The unitary member also includes a housing defining a row of elongated and forwardly extending set pin receiving slots, each slot aligned with and spaced from the back plate set pin apertures. A spacer shoulder is also provided for spacing the pin receiving slots from the back plate to define a inactive punch receiving space.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a punching and binding machine which includes a frame, a laterally-extending row of punch means carried on the frame for guiding movement with respect to the frame and for punching binding apertures. A cover is provided for covering the frame and includes a forwardly extending table generally aligned with the punch for supporting materials to be punched. A guide is mounted to the table for securement at a position to said table. The guide includes at least one surface that in the secured position is selectively movable between a paper engaging position and a cover engaging position, each of these positions being generally transverse to the row of punches. The cover engaging position is laterally and outwardly offset of the paper engaging position. Thus an oversized cover punched using the guide in the cover engaging position with overlay edges of paper punched using the guide means in the paper engaging position.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a combined punch and binding machine which includes a frame, a plurality of pin receiving die openings, and a punch mechanism carried on the frame. An adjustable back gauge plate is provided for engaging an edge of the material to be punched and is positioned rearwardly of the die openings. The plate has a forwardly extending slide for adjusting the plate relative to the die openings and an adjustment indicia are carried on the slide. A cover is provided for covering the punch mechanisms and through the adjustment slide and for alignment with the indicia on the slide. A thickness gauge is carried on the cover for measuring the thickness of the material to be punched as the indicia thereon for indicating the measured thickness. The thickness indicia on the gauge is correlated to the adjustment indicia on the adjustment slide so that the position of the back gauge plate is set relative to the measured thickness of material to be punched.

Abstract: A power sheet punching apparatus is provided in which a reversing drive operates initially to drive punches through a stack of sheets and thereafter to reverse direction of the drive to withdraw the punches from the sheets. Should the drive be insufficient to drive the punches through the sheets and a jam occurs, an automatic timer operates to thereafter stop the drive and reverse the drive to withdraw the punches from the sheets, thereby providing an automatic non-jamming punch mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic reverse system for a shredder machine automatically causes reversal of the shredder motor when the system becomes jammed. A centrifugal switch connected with a starter winding of the drive motor disconnects power feed thereto when the motor is rotating above a predetermined speed. A manually actuated switching circuit in combination with the centrifugal switch initially energizes the system for forward operation. When a jam occurs, the centrifugal switch together with the switching circuit automatically causes a reversal in the direction of rotation of the motor, the reverse operation continuing until the operator manually actuates a switch to deenergize the system or when an automatic switch halts reverse rotation after a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An apparatus for shredding paper by passing the paper or document between a pair of shredding rollers comprising a plurality of spaced cutters characterized by a backup arrangement for at least one of the rollers to prevent bending of the roller and jamming during a shredding operation. The backup arrangement includes at least one yoke member having at least one finger which extends between cutters to engage a spacing portion of the roller to limit the amount of bending thereof so that a document or sheet of paper cannot pass between the rollers without being shredded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a film suitable for use in lamination under heat and pressure. A plurality of resins is co-extruded into concentric annuli, the inner annulus being a polyester type resin, and at least one of the outer annuli consisting of a polyolefin based resin. The co-extrusion is carried out as the extruding die is rotated about its axis. After quenching to form a multi-layer seamless tube, the tube is collapsed and heated to a temperature suitable for biaxial orientation. An air bubble is introduced into the heated tube to expand the diameter thereof and simultaneously orient the tube biaxially by molecular orientation. The biaxially oriented tube is cooled sufficiently to retain its molecular orientation, and is then collapsed. The tube is then heated to a shrinking temperature while under controlled restraint to achieve a predetermined dimension in amount of shrinkage in the film. Finally, the edges of the shrunk tube are slit to form a pair of flat films.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a film suitable for use in lamination under heat and pressure. A plurality of resins is co-extruded into concentric annuli, the inner annulus being a polyester type resin, and at least one of the outer annuli consisting of a polyolefin based resin. The co-extrusion is carried out as the extruding die is rotated about its axis. After quenching to form a multi-layer seamless tube, the tube is collapsed and heated to a temperature suitable for biaxial orientation. An air bubble is introduced into the heated tube to expand the diameter thereof and simultaneously orient the tube biaxially by molecular orientation. The biaxially oriented tube is cooled sufficiently to retain its molecular orientation, and is then collapsed. The tube is then heated to a shrinking temperature while under controlled restraint to achieve a predetermined dimension in amount of shrinkage in the film. Finally, the edges of the shrunk tube are slit to form a pair of flat films.

Abstract: An improved book cover structure of the general type having an integral backbone and front and back covers connected to the backbone via spaced parallel score lines to enable the front and back covers to flex relative to the backbone. A backbone strip of hot melt adhesive is secured on an inside face area of the backbone. Spacer means for positioning the outermost sheets in engagement with the backbone strip are provided and comprise cover strips of hot melt adhesive secured to inside surface areas of the front and back covers adjacent to the score lines with reduced area portions of the cover strips extending across the score lines.

Abstract: A book cover structure of the type having front and back covers for binding sheets therebetween. A backbone area is joined with the front and back covers. The backbone area is provided with spaced parallel strips of hot melt adhesive with transversely extending bridge means of hot melt adhesive extending therebetween the width of the backbone area. Spaced score lines are positioned between the parallel strips under the bridges in parallel relation relative to the strips to enable the user to flex the binding along selectable score lines relative to the backbone area. The bridge means of hot melt adhesive and the strips comprise means for holding sheets in bound engagement with the backbone area. The bridge means of hot melt adhesive extend across the score lines and thus provide continuity of adhesive on opposite sides of and across the score lines.

Abstract: A laminating machine is disclosed for use in laminating upper and lower heat activatible films on an object. Preferably a packet is employed having upper and lower film leaves within which the object is placed. The packet is received in the laminating machine which has a heating and compression zone formed of upper and lower heater assemblies followed by drive rollers. The heater assemblies are movable towards one another and both heat and compress the film packet as it moves through the machine drawn by the drive rollers. At least one of the heater assemblies has a tapering member which causes increased pressure along central portions of the packet relative to edge portions so as to create a wave in front of the heating and compression zone which spreads the material out evenly and prevents wrinkling or creasing during laminating.

Abstract: A restorable gang apparatus for telephone books which includes a main frame having a top shelf and spaced end plates depending downwardly generally at opposite ends of the shelf with one or more telephone books being normally storable on the bottom side of the shelf. A series of book mounting units are suspended in side by side relation from beneath the top shelf between the spaced end plates when in a storage position. Each unit is comprised of the following elements. An inclined track hanger means suspends the inclined track in an inclined position where an outer end of the track is more elevated than an inner or rearward end of the track. Telephone book carrier structure is disposed beneath and mounted on the telephone book carrier structure. Means are provided for mounting the telephone book onto the telephone book carrier structure. A truck having slidable bearing means is mounted on the track for back and forth movement on the inclined track.

Abstract: An improved laminator with a novel heating control system is disclosed for particular employment with laminating packets formed of an article to be laminated positioned between top and bottom leaves. When the packet is aligned in a ready position within the laminating machine, heating elements in a heating zone of the laminating machine are activated while the packet is stationary. When the heating zone attains a first temperature, movement of the packet is initiated in the heating zone. During passage through the heating zone, when the heating zone attains a second temperature, power to the heating elements is cycled so as to maintain the second temperature substantially constant. Also, to further minimize temperature overshoot, power to the heating elements is temporarily removed when the first temperature is attained. With the system of the invention, the dual problems of temperature overshoot and insufficient lamination of lead ends of the packet is avoided.

Abstract: An automatic laminating machine is provided for use with pre-fabricated laminating packets having a tear-off tab with a plurality of notches thereon. The machine is substantially automatic in its operation and can be easily operated by an inexperienced operator. The machine requires no warm-up time and heats up in only 10 seconds each time a packet is inserted. The machine will not operate unless it is used with a laminating packet with a pull tab of proper configuration which not only energizes the machine but also aligns the packet within the machine.